Acetylene-gas lamp.



C. W. BECK.

AOETYLENE GAS LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MARA, 1907.

1,033,861 Patented July 30,1912.

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COLUMn-A ILANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON. n c.

G. W. BECK.

AGETYLENE GAS LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MARA, 1907.

Patented July 30, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PMNOURAFH (IO-.WASHINGTDN, n, c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

CHARLES W. BECK, OF ROCKVILLE CENTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY lVIESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 OXVVELD ACETYLENE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA,

ACETYLENE-GAS LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. BECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockville Center, county of Nassau, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene Gas Lamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of the lamp; Fig. 2 an enlarged detail sectional view of the filter; Fig. 3 a detail plan view of the means for manually closing the feed valve; Fig. 4 a detail side view thereof; Fig. 5 a detail vertical sectional view showing the valve and its guiding means; and Fig. 6 a detail horizontal sec tional view of the gas container on the line VIVI of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of acetylene gas lamps in which carbid is fed to water, the feed mechanism being operated manually or by the gas generated, the variations in volume of said gas controlling the opening and closing of the feed valve.

Heretofore acetylene gas generating lamps of the carbid feed type have been provided with a flexible diaphragm in the upper part of the carbid holder, said diaphragm being connected at its edge to the metal casing of the lamp, a feed valve mechanism being connected to the center of said diaphragm whereby the variations in gas pressure or volume, will control the feed of carbid. One

of the greatest diiiiculties encountered in the manufacture of acetylene gas generating lamps of this type is to make the generator gas-tight by soldered joints. Lamps made in this way must be carefully inspected and thoroughly tested, under pressure, for leaks before they can be safely placed upon the market. This, of course, adds materially to the cost of manufacture. Furthermore, after the lamps have been in use for some time leaks will be developed in the soldered joints.

It is one of the main objects of this invention to provide a gas and moisture-proof lining for the generator whereby it will be unnecessary to make the metal joints between the parts of the lamp body gas tight, and to thereby provide an efiicient and reliable sealing means.

A further object of this invention is to form the flexible diaphragm integral with the carbid holder and to thereby dispense w1th any joint between the diaphragm and said holder.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the various parts by reference numerals l designates the base of the lamp, said base constituting; the water holder. The upper end of this base is contracted to form the upwardly extending threaded extension 2, and the shoulder 3 at the base of said threaded part. The water holder is lined, as shown at 1 with a suitable material, such as rubber, impervious to moisture and gas.

The upper part 4 of the lamp is constructed of an outer casing of sheet metal, whose lower contracted end 7 is threaded interiorly to receive the threaded upward-extending part 2 of the base.

l/Vithin the upper part or shell 4 of the lamp is arranged a molded rubber carbid holder 10, which is closed at its upper end and contracted toward its lower end, the lower interior wall of said holder inclining downwardly and inwardly and terminating at the feed aperture 11. Around the feed aperture this carbid holder is enlarged exteriorly as at 8 to fit within the threaded part 7, said enlarged part being exteriorly threaded to permit it being screwed down into said threaded part 7 The lower part of the enlargement 8 below the feed aperture 11 is tubular as at 8, with comparatively thin walls. This tubular part is internally threaded to permit it to be screwed down over the threaded extension 2 of the water holder, the lower end of said part 8 being adapted to bear upon the shoulder 3. The threaded part 7 of the shell 4 of the lamp binds the tubular part 8 against the threaded extension 2, and the lower end of said threaded part 7 is adapted to compress the lower end of the tubular part 8 against the shoulder 3 to form a gastight connection between the upper and lower parts of the lamp.

The carbid holder is enlarged to fit the interior of the shell 4 and the upper wall 12 of said bag or carbid holder is thickened and so molded as to extend down within the said bag, its normal tendency being to collapse the bag. On the under side of the upper flexible wall of the carbid holder radial ribs 13 are formed, said ribs normally holding the wall 12 down within the carbid holder and resisting an upward pressure on said wall, and serving when the container is inflated to exert a constant downward pressure thereon tending to eX- pel the gas and collapse the container. It will thus be seen that this molded rubber bag forms a flexible valve seat,'a carbid holder and a gas holder or container. By using such a device 1 am enabled to form the outside protecting shell very cheaply as it is not necessary to form the joints between the parts thereof gas tight, the gas being retained in the molded rubber bag. It will, of course, be understood, that this seamless, gas-tight flexible container may be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner. It will also be readily understood that the upper wall thereof may be collapsed or forced downward by any suitable means, but I prefer to form it selfcollapsible.

Secured to the center of the upper wall of the combined carbid and gas container is a depending valve rod 1 which extends down through the feed opening and carries at its lower end the feed valve 15. When the gas container is inflated the valve 15 is drawn into the feed. opening and bears against the flexible wall thereof, thereby closing said opening and preventing further feeding of carbid. The lower part of the valve rod is enlarged to fit the feed opening and is upwardly tapered slightly and is of such length that when the gas container is collapsed the lower end of said enlarged part of the rod will close the feed aperture and prevent the further feed of carbid. The object of the upwardly tapered rod is to permit it to readily move downward through the carbid. When the gas container is inflated there is suflicient pressure on the upper wall 12 thereof to draw the valve rod up through the carbid in said container. The upper end of the valve rod extends through the upper wall of the container and is secured to said wall by suitable elamp nuts I l and secured to said upward projecting end are radial pins 148*.

Pivoted on the upper wall 16 of the protecting shell 4 is an operating lever 17, said operating lever being formed with the long arms 17 which engage under the pins 14:, and with a short arm 17". Secured to the upper wall 16 of the protecting shell is a circular cap 18 through the upper wall of which is threaded an operating screw 19, the inner end of said operating screw being adapted to bear on the shorter arm 17 of the operating lever. By forcing said screw inward the longer arms of the lever will be raised and the feed valve closed. By withdrawing the operating screw the upper wall of the gas container will be free to move downward and to thereby open the feed valve. lVhen gas is generated by the dropping of carbid into the water, said gas finds its way back through the carbid feed opening, through the carbid. in the car-bid holder, into the space above the carbid, and when the pressure is suflicient to overcome the tendency of the upper wall of the gas container to collapse, the feed valve will be closed and further generation of gas prevented until the gas pressure is reduced sutficiently to permit the said upper wall of the gas container to move downward.

Secured to the upper wall of the gas container is a flanged ring 20 which is internally threaded; and screwed into this ring is a filter-carrying plug 21 which is bored axially for a portion of its length to form a chamber 22. Screwed into the lower end of this filter-carrying plug is the perforated stem 23 to which the filter cloth 2a is secured. Surrounding the filter plug and bearing on the upper side of the top wall of the gas container is a ring 25, said ring bridging the space between the upper wall of the gas container and the upper wall. 16

of the shell l. Between said ring and the under side of said wall is a packing gasket 26. The upper end of the filter-carrying plug 21 extends above the upper wall 16 of the protecting shell and is provided with a clamping flange 27 between which and the wall 16 is arranged a parking gasket 28. It will thus be seen that by screwing inward the filter crarying plug, the upper wall of the gas container will be drawn toward the upper wall of the protecting shell and held rigidly in position. The chamber 22 of the filter-carrying plug is in communication with the chamber formed by the ring 25. Gas is conducted to the pressure regulator 29 through a. pipe 30 which is in communication with the chamber formed by the ring 25, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The pressure regulator may be of any suitable form and is employed to insure a uniform pressure at the burner without regard to the variations in pressure in the gas container.

Secured to the bottom of' the pressure regulator is a depending rigid guide rod 32 which fits a longitudinal bore 33 of the valve rod 14. This rod serves as a means for centrally guiding the valve and valve rod during its reciprocation.

The upper partof the lamp is provided, near its lower end with radial pins 31 which are designed to be grasped when it isdesired to separate the two parts of the lamp for the purpose of cleaning and refilling the same. Then it is desired to refill the carbid holder, the two parts of the lamp must be detached and the carbid holder inverted and the carbid poured therein through the feed valve opening.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the entire lamp is lined with material impervious to moisture and gas, and that, therefore, the outer metal shell forms merely a support for the lining and for the operating parts of the lamp and that the joints therein need not be gas tight. It is, of course, necessary that the joint between the upper part of the lamp and the lower part thereof be gas tight and said gas-tight joint is secured by causing the lower edge of the part 7 to compress the lower end of the tubular part 8 of the carbid holder. It will, therefore, be seen that the gas tight joint between the two members or parts of the lamp is secured by compressing the lower end of the lining of the upper part of the lamp when the two parts are connected together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An acetylene gas lamp comprising a lower part constituting a water holder and an upper part detachably connected to the lower part, a lining for said upper part adapted to contain the carbid and serve also as a gas container, said lining being impervious to water and gas, and means for permitting the gas to flow from said lining.

2. An acetylene gas lamp comprising a lower part constituting a water holder, an upper part detachably connected to the lower part, a one-piece flexible lining for said upper part adapted to contain carbid and to serve as a gas holder, the lower end of said container being open to form a carbid feed aperture, the upper wall of said lining being flexible, a valve connected to said upper wall and adapted to control the feed opening, whereby said valve will be controlled by variations in gas volume in the container, and means adapted to be manually operated for expanding the gas container and closing the feed valve.

3. A combined carbid holder and gas container for an acetylene gas generator comprising an outer protecting and supporting shell and a yielding lining of material impervious to moisture and gas.

4. A combined carbid holder and gas container for an acetylene gas generator consisting of a flexible container formed of material impervious to moisture and gas, and a supporting means for said container.

5. A combined carbid holder and gas container for an acetylene gas generator consisting of a container of molded rubber having an upper flexible wall and a supporting means for said container.

6. A combined carbid holder and gas container for an acetylene gas generator comprising an outer protecting and supporting shell and a lining of material impervious to moisture and gas and having one flexible wall, integral with said lining.

7. A combined carbid holder and gas container for an acetylene gas generator comprising an outer protecting and supporting shell and a lining of material impervious to moisture and gas, having one flexible wall integral with said lining, said wall being normally collapsible.

8. A combined carbid holder and gas container for an acetylene gas generator comprising an outer protecting and supporting shell, a seamless lining of material impervious'to moisture and gas and having one flexible wall integral with said lining, said wall being normally collapsible, and a valve mechanism connected to said flexible wall and adapted to be operated by variations in gas volume.'

9. A combined carbid holder and gas container for an acetylene gas generator comprising an outer protecting and supporting shell, a lining of molded rubber and having one flexible wall.

10. An acetylene gas lamp comprising a lower part constituting a water holder and an upper part detachably connected to the lower part, a seamless one-piece lining for said upper part adapted to contain the carbid and serve as a gas container, said lining being impervious to water and gas, means for permitting the gas to flow from said container, a filter within said gas container, a pressure regulator carried by the upper lamp part, means for leading the gas from the filter to the pressure regulator, and a burner adapted to receive the gas from the pressure regulator.

11. An acetylene gas lamp comprising a lower part constituting a water holder, an upper part detachably connected to the lower part, a lining for said upper part adapted to contain carbid and to serve as a gas holder, the lower end of said lining being open to from a carbid feed aperture, the upper wall of said lining being flexible, a valve connected to said upper wall and adapted to control the feed opening by variations in gas volume in the container, a

filter in said gas container, means for connecting said filter and the adjoining portion of the container to the rigid outer wall of the upper lamp part, a burner, and means for leading gas from the filter to the burner.

12. A acetylene gas lamp comprising a lower part constituting a water holder, an upper part detachably connected to the water holder, a lining for said upper part adapted to contain carbid and to serve as a gas container, the upper wall of said lining normally collapsing, a feed valve connected to said upper wall and adapted to be opened to feed carbid when said wall is collapsed, means for permitting gas to flow from said container, a lever having a long arm in engagement with the flexible wall of the gas container, and an operating screw adapted to be brought into engagement with the short arm of said lever. V

13. An acetylene gas lamp comprising a lower part constituting a water holder, an upper part detachably connected to the lower part, a lining for said upper part and adapted to contain carbid and to serve as a gas holder, the lower end of said lining being open to form a carbid feed aperture, the upper wall of said lining being flexible, a valve connected to said upper wall and adapted to control the feed opening by variations in gas volume in-the container, means carried by the upper flexible wall of the container and adapted to close the feed aperture when said wall is collapsed.

14. An acetylene gas lamp or generator comprising a lower water holder and an upper carbid holder, a lining forsaid parts impervious to gas and moisture, means for connecting said two parts together, and means whereby a portion of the lining of one of said parts will be compressed to form a gas-tight joint between the two parts.

15. An acetylene gas generator or lamp comprising an upper member, a lower member, a'yielding moisture .and gas proof lining for said members, and means for connecting together said members.

16. An acetylene gas generator or lamp comprising an upper member constituting a carbid holder, a lower member constituting a water holder, a lining for the upper part of yielding material impervious to moisture and gas and an integral dia phragm portion formed at the upper end of said lining and extending across the upper portion of the carbid holder, said diaphragm normally extending downwardly into the carbid holder, whereby a gas pressure within the carbidholder will lift said diaphragm, a feed valve connected to said diaphragm and extending downwardly through the holder, a lever connected externally to said diaphragm, and means for operating said lever to lift the diaphragm and the valve.

17. A carbid holder for an acetylene gas generator formed of flexible. seamless material and provided with one movable wall and with a feed aperture on the opposite side of said holder from said movable wall, said material being extended beyond the feed aperture to form a filling tunnel or cup, whereby the carbid may be poured into said holder through the feed aperture, said extension forming a cup around the feed aperture to receive the inflowing carbid and to direct it to the feed aperture.

18. A carbid holder for an acetylene gas generator formed of flexible seamless material and provided with one movable wall and with a feed aperture on the opposite side of said holder from the movable wall, said material being extended beyond the feed aperture to form a filling tunnel or cup, whereby the carbid may be poured into said holder through the feed aperture, said extension forming a cup around the feed aperture to receive the infiowing carbid and to direct it to the feed aperture, and a feed valve connected to the movable wall and adapted to control the feed aperture.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses this 15th day of February 1907.

CHARLES WV. BECK. -Witnesses:

A. D. COOKINGHAM, R. C. MALONE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

